Man V Horse 8th June
A great turn out of Hay Hotfooters, 5 of us taking on the full distance and 2 relay teams. The course was very different this year and slightly longer (I say slightly, it felt like a 100 miles). The weather was amazing but quite hot for running, luckily my neighbour was waiting at the finish with a glass of prosecco! We will all be back next year with more Hotfooters in tow!
Jo
A view from the third leg of a lame old mare
I’d been gutted, listening to all of the talk and arrangements for Man v Horse. I was injured and there was no way I was going to be able to do it, or so I thought! Wind on a few weeks, and a telephone call from Tina to ask if I would be interested in being part of a three person relay. Sarah was injured and couldn’t run, it would be the third leg which was just under 9 miles. Could I? Would I? ABSOLUTELY! I haven’t been so excited for quite some time I can tell you! I’d heard of this race, I’d seen clips of it, it looked wonderfully bonkers – just up my street.

An early morning rendezvous and we were off in Shaun’s charabanc, heading up the valley to Llanwrtyd Wells, a pretty little town with an eccentric reputation for events out of the ordinary (see Bog Snorkelling). The place was buzzing. After a briefing at the school, we assembled in the centre of town for the start, which was to be followed 15 minutes later by the start of the horses. I’d have liked to see them start, but Martyn and I had a bus to catch to our relay point.

Already on their way were Martin, John, Jo, Lily and Chris doing the whole thing and Diane and Alan N on the first legs of the two relay teams. Tina and Alan H had set off earlier on a bus to their relay point. Thoughts of my stomach are never far from my mind and my big question was what to eat and when. I’d had my breakfast at 7:30, the race started at 11am, but I wouldn’t start running until around 1:30. When in doubt, eat a banana. Which I did sat in a very pretty spot, next to a ford on the edge of a well-kept farmyard. Martyn and I speculated about when the first competitors to come through our relay point would arrive, and whether they would have two legs or four. It was a man who came through first and he was flying. By the time they passed our position they had already done a half-marathon distance but still had 10 miles to go (the race distance had sneakily increased). They flung their checkpoint tokens into a bucket, grabbed a drink and sped off up the hill. We waited a bit longer and the cry came down that the first horse was coming through. My god what a sight! It cantered through the ford and sped off. Blimey, this was fantastic. The runners were coming thick and fast (or rather skinny and fast!) and Martyn and I were so caught up in the excitement of cheering people on (including our Hotfooting colleagues doing the full distance) as they headed towards another hill, that we were rather taken aback to see Alan H bowling towards us. He passed the relay sweatband to Martyn, and he was off up the hill. It was just a short wait and then Tina came in to pass the band to me and I was off, not quite hot on Martyn’s heels, but heading in the same direction. And that direction was up, and up and up some more. The good news was that it was so steep and so early in my leg that there was no way I was running it, so used it to warm up my legs and power walked up to the top. For the next 10 miles it was up and down with beautiful views popping up to lift the spirits and spur you on. There was a group of riders that on each hill would pass me on the uphill, but revenge was mine on the downhill. Ultimately they beat me home, but they had more legs than me!

It was a fantastic experience, no doubt helped by the beautiful weather, and to be cheered through to the finish by the ever supportive Hotfooters was worth every uphill step.
Click here for photos
Rachel

Snowy Sunday run 20.1.13 Posted by Jo
The snow was still lying quite thick on the roads so we abandoned our original mountain run and instead set off from Hay carpark on a network of pathways, some of which we'd never been on before. It always amazes me that there are still new runs to be found right on the doorstep. What a great couple of hours (prob nearer to 3!) of running and chatting we had as well as posing for some snowy photos. (some of us posed more than others mentioning no names Whippit and Gazelle boy!)
We started by running up to Hay common past the cemetary and then across to the woods above Llanigon. Some lovely downhill woodland paths all covered in snow. The next bit was new to us and John had the map out ensuring we went in the right direction. The path took us to the road the Hillraiser comes down, it looked totally different covered in a sheet of ice and a dusting of snow, very slippy. After climbing the road until it met with a farm, we turned left through the farmyard and out on to a common. This was amazing, I couldn't believe non of us had been there before, lots of wooden walkways and paths eventually cutting across the Offas Dyke path. After heading down Offas Dyke on to familiar territory we ran across to Cusop Dingle and up to Cusop Hill. Everything was covered in ice and very deep snow which caught some of us unawares and there was plenty of stumbling through snow drifts. We finished off with a lovely downhill run back to Cusop Church finishing off with hot choclate and cake at Shepherds. Thanks to all that came along...alot of fun!
The best way to start a Sunday
Photos click here .

Hereford 10k New Years day
Very apt that this race starts at the rowing club as it was a very wet start...infact the start line was flooded and Wye Valley Runners had to organise another start and finish line. Overflow parking was exactly that and John (I know where we're going Whippit Price) found us a fantastic parking slot (miles away) and a shortcut (flooded) to the race HQ. However as usual a great way start the new year and a good HH turnout. Alan H, getting in some extra training now retirement has finally caught up, put in a brilliant run as did Rachel....the prize for best run though goes to new comer Gary supported by Alan Mac. Taking part in his first race he did him self proud. Well done Gary!

Monkhall Cross country posted by John (whippit) Price
The HH cross country team overcame a late withdrawal of its captain (claiming a “bit of a cold” and overwork) to put in a very creditable performance at the Monkhall cross country on Sunday. The captain’s withdrawal came as much as a surprise as Susannah and Harriet turning up early! The ladies were led home by Jodie Broad, followed by Susannah, Rachel, Emma (R ) and Harriet (the latter running her second cross country race of the week end – but as the first went through a B&Q car park we are not sure that it qualifies as “cross country”).

The boys team was depleted – in fact there were only three of us – Andy Broad, Tim Rawlins (a welcome return to the HH fold) and John the Whippet (whose performance sadly was less than whippet like on this occasion). Come on you male HHs – we must raise at least a full team for the next race at Presteigne. At for the race – it was a glorious sunny (but cold) morning with challenging slopes, cloying mud and frosty meadows (but at least the much feared ankle twisting frozen ruts failed to materialize). In all, perfect cross country conditions enjoyed by all who took part (once the finish line had been crossed) - organized as ever by the highly competent and friendly Wye Valley Runners. It was just a shame that there were not more HHs to benefit from the experience – but we will put that right at Presteinge (won’t we!?).